A new law to introduce the minimum pricing of alcohol in Wales has been unveiled.
The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill, was introduced before the National Assembly for Wales by Public Health Minister Rebecca Evans on Monday, October 23.
The Welsh Government said there is an estimated 50,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions a year, costing the Welsh NHS £120m annually. In 2015, there were 463 alcohol-related deaths in Wales.
It is also estimated that a minimum price of 50p per unit would see 53 fewer deaths and 1,400 fewer hospital admissions in Wales per year.
However, the Welsh Government said it will decide on setting a minimum unit price later, once researchers at Sheffield University had updated their modelling.
Public Health Minister Rebecca Evans AM said: “There is a very clear and direct link between levels of excessive drinking and the availability of cheap alcohol. So we need to take decisive action now to address the affordability of alcohol, as part of wider efforts to tackle alcohol related harm.’
“The Bill I am unveiling will tackle excessive alcohol consumption by making it an offence for retailers to sell strong alcohol at low prices. It will make an important contribution to improving health outcomes, by putting prevention and early intervention at the heart of our efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm. This will undoubtedly help save lives.”
Moves to introduce a minimum price of 50p per unit were first unveiled in July 2015 but were scrapped because of a court case between the Scottish Government, which also wants to introduce minimum pricing, and the Scotch Whisky Association.
The plans were later put on hold because of the Assembly elections and there is also a race against time as Wales will lose the ability to legislate in this area from April next year because of the 2017 Wales Act.
I think this is very nanny state, email your AM if you’re against or even for it. Hefin David for Caerphilly, Rhiannon Passmore for Islwyn or Dawn
Bowden in Rhymney. This will put everyday people’s nose out of joint in what is already financially difficult times for people. Britain is expensive enough already now they target one of our few enjoyments. Focus on the problems that cause dependency and issues with alchohol. The most heavily addicted will find a black market and then we could have wider issues such as young people taking advantage of that unregulated access to alchohol. It’s flawed in many ways, the sentiment and good intentions are agreeable, however this is a typical Labour trait of getting too involved in people’s lives.
Cardiff Bay Old Boys Labour Club using their newly acquired tax raising powers to erm……raise tax, no surprise there then.
This will not stop those who continue to drink excessively, it will only serve to financially punish those of us who drink sensibly and in moderation. The cause is the person who drinks too much, not the drink that is offered for sale. Why not make the wreckless fools who have to be picked up and treated by the emergency services pay for having to be picked up off the street after a night of binge drinking madness.
I understand there is a subsidised bar selling alcoholic drinks at the Welsh Assembly. Of course AMs are all very responsible people and find it convenient to punish the low paid worker who likes a cheap, (because that’s all they can afford), drink on their day off whilst still enjoying their own pleasures.
This is the shape of legislation to come from Cardiff. Beware voters!